Multicolor sheet-printing press



B. F. UPHAM.

MULTICOLOR SHEET PRINTING PRESS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 11. 19H).

1,309,555. Patented July 8, 1919.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

gnocnfoz vflneoom Bur/F1 Upllam B. F. UPHAM.

MULTICOLOR SHEET PRINTING PRESS.

APPLICATION FILED IAN-17. I916.

5] n ue 1 1 r01. Bur/'1? Upham dltotuvlys UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BURT F. UPHAM, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO

UNITED PRINTING MACHINERY COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A COR- PORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

MULTICOLOR SHEET-PRINTING PRESS.

Specification of Letters latent.

Patented July 8, 1919.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BURT F. UPHAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bos+ ton, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Multicolor Sheet-Printing Presses; and I hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

This invention is a novel improvement in rotary multicolor sheet printing presses, and has particular reference to that type of press in which the impression cylinder has two impression surfaces cooperating with a member, preferably a plate cylinder, carrying two printing surfaces.

In the'present invention each sheet is fed to one impression surface of the impression cylinder, and presented thereby to one printing surface; and is then taken by a transfer mechanism or reel which in turn delivers such sheet to the second impression surface of the impression cylinder whereby it is presented to the other printing surface and thereafter delivered; and novel means are provided whereby in case the transfer reel should not deliver a sheet tothe second impression surface, the impression will be automatically thrown off. during the time that such second impres sion surface should have presented such sheet to the correspondin printing surface on the plate cylinder. Means are also provided whereby if a sheet is not delivered .to thefirst impression surface the impression is thrown ofi' during the time that such impression surface would have presented a sheet to the related printing surface on the plate cylinder. The construction of the preferred form of press is such that if the first impression surface fails to receive a sheet from the feed table the impression is thrown off during the time that such surface is passing its related printing surface; or if the second impression surface fails to receive a sheet from the transfer reel the impression is thrown off while the second impression surface is passing its related printing surface on the plate cylinder; and if both impression surfaces fall to receive sheets the impressions will be thrown off for both surfaces; but if either impression surface receives or carries a sheet the 1mpression will be automatically thrown on so that such sheet will-be properly printed by the related printing surface; but no impression surface will be printed should it not carry a sheet.

I will explain the invention as embodied in a rotary multicolor press with reference to the accompanying drawings, and summarize in the claims the essential features and combinations of parts for which I desire protectlon.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatical side elevation of so much of a multicolor sheet printing press as is necessary to impart a clear understanding of the present invention; the parts being shown in normal operative position in full lines, and the tripping mechanism for the first impression surface being indicated in tripped position in dotted mes.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing both tripping mechanisms in tripped positions in .full lines; the transfer reel tripping mechanism being indicated in normal or inactive position in dotted lines.

- Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail sectional view of part of the tripping devices.

Fig. 4 is a detail view of part of the transfer reel and related sheet detectors.

The impression cylinder I has two diametrically opposite impression surfaces I, I respectively adapted to cooperate with printing surfaces P, P on the plate cylinder P. These cylinders may be mounted in any preferred way and provided with any suitable means to throw on or off impression. In the example shown the impression cylinder I is shifted toward or from the plate cylinder P to throw impression on or off as described in my Patent #1,087,055

for instance. For this purpose the cylinder boxes 8 can be raised or lowered by means of a cam 8 operated by a lever 8 connected by a link 8 to one arm 1 of a compound lever, having another arm 1 on which is pivoted a dog 1 adapted to be engaged with a notch 2 in an oscillating lever 2 eperated by a cam 2 on a shaft 2, all substantially as described in my aforesaid Patent #1,0s7,055.

The grippers i for the impression surface I are adapted to take sheets from a table T and present them to the printing surface P of plate cylinder P; and after such sheet is thus printed the grippers i deliver such sheet to the grippers r of a transfer cylinder or reel R, located at the side of the cylinder I below the feed table T. Said reel R is of such sizethat after tak ng a sheet from the grippers i it will deliver such sheet to the grippers i of the impression surface I at the proper time,

7 is presented to the printing surface P and by meansof a pin 9 engaged by a printed in color thereby. Thereafter the sheet is discharged from impression surface I by a delivery cylinder D, or other suitable means, to a delivery -mechanism not shown, such for example as illustrated in my Patent No. 1,016,659 of February 6, 1912. Suitable means are provided for detecting the absence of a sheet, or a misplaced or imperfect sheet, on table T, so that if a misplaced or imperfect sheet should be fed, or no sheet should be fed, the throw off mechanlsm is tripped and permitted to throw the cylinders off impression while the surface I is passing the printing surface P. In the drawings detector fingers 5? are shown at the delivery end of table T, which fingers are preferably arranged and adapted to operate as shown and described in my application Serial No. 62,616 filed November '20, 1915; and if these detector fingers,

5 do not find a sheet in position to be taken by grippers z" or find an imperfect or misplaced sheet said fingers are arrested and thereupon suitable devices cause the oscillation of the shaft 5 as described in my said application and upon the oscillation of shaft 5 the throw off mechanism for cylinder I is tripped as followsz As shown a controlling lever 99 is pivoted at 9 on theframe (not shown) and ts short arm 9 is pressed by a spring 9 interposed between'said arm and a suitable stop 9 so that the spring normally tends to throw the long arm 9 of the lever upward; this arm 9 however is normally held down pivoted latch 10 which is connected by a link 10' to an arm 5' on shaft 5 so that when the detectors 5 fail to find a sheet in proper position to be taken by grippers z" the rock shaft draws the latch 10 from pin 9 and allows spring 9 to throw arm 9 upward.

The upward movement of lever 9 however is controlled by means of a cam 9 on the shaft of cylinder 2; which cam engages a roller 9 on arm 9 and relieves the pressure of the pin 9 against the latch 10'just before the grippers 2" should take a sheet from table T, and if they fail to find a sheet the latch 10 can be easily disengaged from pin 9. vWhen the cam 9 permits, the spring 9 will rock the arm 9 upwardly to the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1, and in full lines in Fig. 2. Below the arm 9 is bell-crank lever 11-11 which is pivoted at 11 on a suitable part of the machine, and the short arm 11 of this lever engages, under a stud or pin 9 on arm 9,

so that said lever is normally held down by arm 9, as indicated in full lines in Fig. 1, while latch 10 is engaged with pin 9; but. when the arm '9 is raised then lever 1111 is immediately thrown up by means of a spring 11 strung on a rod 11 pivotally connected to the outer end of the arm 11 and passing through a guide stud 11 suitably attached to an adjacent part of the frame of the machine. This rod 11 has a slotted head 11 (Fig. 3) on its lower end which is engaged by a pin 4: on the upper end of a rod 4 which is pivotally connected to the end 1 of the dog 1 as shown. When arm 9 is thrown upward spring 11 rocks lever 11-11 upwardly and at the same time pulls rod 4* upwardly, thus throwing end 1 of the dog 1 into engagement with the notch 2 thus causing the throw off of impression (see Fig. 2) whenever the detectors 5 fail to find a sheet. or a properly positioned sheet on the table T.

To the end 1 of the dog is pivotally connected a rod 1 carrying a spring 1 engaging a stud 1 on the frame; and when the dog 1 is thrown upwardly by the lever 2, spring 1 is put under tension and upon completion of the throw off operation, and when the pressure between the end 1 of the loo dog and the notch 2 is relaxed the spring 1 will snap end 1 of the do into engagement with the other end 0 that upon the return movement of the lever 2 lever 11 will be oscillated so as to throw on the impression, as described in my said Patent #1,087,055; and when the impression is thrown on the dog 1 w1ll then remain in normal position, as indicated 1n notch 2, so

Fig. 1, until it is again displaced by the operation of the tripping mechanism for table T above described, or by the operation 'of the detector and tripping mechanism for the transfer reel R, as hereinafter exemploy a skeleton'reel formed of a series of disks or wheels 3 attached to a shaft 3". Below the reel R is a rock shaft 7 having a series of light steel detector fingers 7, which are adapted to contact with the sheet of paper S on the surface of the reel R. Said detector fingers 7 are lightly pressed toward the sheet by means of a spring 7 interposed between an arm 7 on shaft 7 and a stop 7 attached to a suitable part of the frame; a rod 7 pivotally attached to the rod 7 and extending loosely through the stop 7 carries the spring 7 Attached to the shaft 7 is another arnr 7 which is in turn pivotally connected by a link 7 to the short arm of a lever 7" pivoted at 7 on a suitable support, and having a latch finger 7" adapted to engage a notch 6 in one end of a controlling lever 6 fulcrumed at 6' on a suitable support. A rod 6 is connected to the other end of lever 6 beside rod 11 and extends through a guidestop 6 beside stop 11.

Said rod 6 has a slotted head 6 on its lower end engaged by the pin 4 on rod 4. A spring 6 is strung on rod 6 between the stop 6 and the end of lever 6 so that when the latch 7" is disengaged from the notch 6 the spring 6 will oscillate lever 6 (if permitted by cam 12, post) and pull rod 1 upwardly, thereby causing the end 1 of dog 1 to engage the notch 2 in lever 2, and thus cause the impression to be thrown off, in the manner above described, While the surface I" on cylinder I 1s passing surface P on cyljust at the time when the inder 2.

The latch 7" is normally held lightly in engagement with the notch 6, and spring6 is kept from oscillating lever 6, except at the proper moment, by means of a bell-crank lever 12-12 pivoted at 12 on a suitable support adjacent the notched end of lever 6 and having its short arm 12 underlying lever 6; the long arm 12 of said lever 1212 preferably carries a roller 12 which contacts with the surface of a cam 12 attached to the shaft of the cylinder 1 and rotating therewith. This cam 12 is provided with a depression 12Lwhic h comes 0 posite roller 12 l dver 6 should be operated, if the surface I is to be thrown off impression. At other times the lever 12 is held in such position (see Fig. 1) that spring 6 cannot oscillate the lever 6 and trip the throw off but-s uld. the detectors 7 fail to find a sheet on t 'e reel R the throw off will -be tripped at the proper time.

If there "should be no sheet on the reel R the detector fingers 7 would be thrown into impression surface P the roller 12 enters the depression l2 in the cam 12 and allows -Thus the impression will be thrown off if either of the impression surfaces should fail to receive a sheet at the proper point, but will be thrown on if either takes a sheet at the proper point.

Operation.

If the reel R carries a sheet then the detector fingers 7 will ride out on such sheet and will hold the-latch 7" in engagement with the notch 6" during the time that the roller 12 is opposite the low portion 12 of the cam 12; and during the moment of time that the lever 6 is not upheld by the lever 1212 and cam 12, it will be upheld by the latch 7", provided a sheet is on the reel R. If there be no sheet on the transfer reel R the fingers 7, operated by spring 7, will withdraw latch 7 from notch 6 (Fig. 2) and when roller 12 enters the low part 12 of the cam 12 the spring 6 will oscillate lever 6 and throw off impression, as above described; that is it will causeatooth 1 of the dog 1 to engage notch 2 in lever 2, and the latter will cause the dog to rise, through the described connections, and throw cylinder 1 off impression; and as the dog rises spring 1 is put under compression; and as soon as lever 2 starts to reverse its operation said spring 1 will throw the upper end of the dog 1 into engagement with the upper end of notch 2, and the cylinder will be thrown on impression during the descent of the dog, as described in my aforesaid Patent #1,087,055.

If the press is printing and the fingers 5 detect the absence or displacement of a sheet, latch 10 will be disengaged from lever 9, and when roller 9 reaches the low part of cam 9 spring 9 will throw arm 9 upward which will allow lever 111l to rock upward under the action of spring 11, and through rod 11 lift rod 4 and cause dog 1 to engage notch 2 and through connecting parts cause throw off of impression while the surface I is passing the surface 1".

Immediately following the tripping for surface I there would b a sheet on the transfer reel R, indicated at S in Fig. 1, that would have to be printed. The presence of this sheet would cause the latch 7" to hold lever 6 in the position shown in Fig. 1 so that when the impression is thrown on,

just after surface 1 passes surface I, it 1 remains on while sheet S is being presented to the surface P abut after sheet S has been spring 6 would cause rod 4 to also trip the 1? of the dog out of contact with the notch throw off mechanism; and both sprin 11 and 6 would then tend to hold dog 1 in the position shown in Fig. 2, and keep the end 2 so that the impression could remain thrown off until latch 10 should again lock I adapted to receive a previously printed sheet from one impresslon surface of such member lever 9 in lowered position; which would only take place after a sheet had been properly fed to and beyond the detectors 5*. As soonas a sheet is properly fed on table T and taken by grippers 2" the impression will be thrown on, so that such sheet (8 Fig. 1) will be printed by I, P; and after such sheet has been taken by the reel'R the impression will also be thrown on for the surfaces I P and the press will then remain on impression until the grippers i or i fail to take a sheet, whereupon the impression will be thrown off, as above described.

It will 'be understood from the foregoing description that any sheet properly fed to the press will be printed twice, or in two colors before being delivered; and that any sheet which may be taken from the reel R by grippers 2' after grippers 2" fail to take a sheet from table T will be properly printed before it is delivered from the machine.

What I claim is: I

1. Ina multicolor press the combination of an impression member having a plurality ofimpression surfaces, a printing member having a plurality of printing surfaces respectively adapted to co-act with the related impression surfaces on the impression member, means for throwing on and off impression for any related printing and impression surface; a feed table for directing sheets to the impression member, and transfer means and deliver the same to another im ression surface thereof; with sheet detectlng and tripping mechanism whereby if a sheet is n t presented by or not roperlypositioned on the transfer means t e impression is off during the time that such sheet should have been rinted.

2. n a multicolor'press the combination of an impression member having a plurality of impression surfaces, a printing member having a plurality of printing surfaces respectively adapted to co-act with the related impression surfaces on the impression member, means'for throwing on and off impression for any. related printing and impresslon surface; a feed table for directlng sheets to the impression member, and transfer means adapted to receive a previously printed sheet from one impression surface of such member and deliver the same to another impression surface thereof; with sheet detecting and tripping mechanism whereby the throw-off mechanism is permitted to operate if the impression member does not take a sheet from the table during the time such sheet should have been printed; and sheet detector and tripping mechanism whereby the throw-off mechanism is permitted to operate if the transfer means fails to properly function during the time that such sheet should have been printed.

8. In a multicolor printing press, the combination of an impression cylinder having a plurality of impression surfaces, and a printing cylinder having a plurality of printing surfaces respectively adapted to coact with the related impression surface on the impression cylinder, means for throwing N on and off impression, means for directing sheets to the impression cylinder, and transfer means adapted to receive a previously printed sheet from one impression surface; with sheet detecting and tripping devices whereby if a defective sheet is presented or a sheet is not properly positioned at either taking point the impression is oif during the time that such sheet should have been printed.

4. In a multicolor printing press, the combination of an impression cylinder having a plurality of impression surfaces, and a printing cylinder having a plurality of printing surfaces respectively adapted to coact with the related impression surface on the impression cylinder, means for throwing on and off impression, means for direct- 1 ing sheets to the impression cylinder, and transfer means adapted to receive a previ- Ously printed sheet from one impression surface; with sheet detecting and tripping de vices whereby the impression throw-off means is permitted to operate if the impression cylinder is' not supplied with a sheet from the directing means during the time such sheet should have been printed; and sheet detector and tripping devices whereby if a sheet is not presented by or not properly positioned on the transfer means the impression is oil during the time that such sheet should have been printed.

5. In a multicolor press the combination of an impression cylinder having opposite impression surfaces and a printing cylinder 'having opposite printing surfaces respectripping devices whereby the throw-off mechanism is permitted to operate if a sheet is not presented by or not properly positioned on the transfer means during the time that such sheet should have been printed.

6. In a multicolor press the combination of an impression cylinder having opposite impression surfaces and a printing cylinder having opposite printing surfaces respectively adapted to co-act with the related impression surfaces of the impression cylinder, means for throwing on and off impression, a table for feeding sheets to the impression cylinder, and a reel adapted to receive a previously printed sheet from one impression surface and deliver the same to the next impression surface; with sheet detecting and tripping devices whereby the throw-off mechanism is permitted to operate if the impression cylinder does not take a sheet from the feed table during the time such sheet should have been printed, and sheet detector and tripping devices whereby if a sheet is not presented by or not properly positioned on the transfer means the'impression is ofi during the time that such sheet should have been printed.

7. In a multicolor printing press the com bination of an impression cylinder having two impression surfaces, a plate cylinder having two printing surfaces respectively adapted to co-act with the related impression surfaces, a feed table adapted to deliver sheets to one of the impression surfaces of the impression cylinder, a transfer reel adapted to take sheets from the first impression surface of the cylinder and deliver such sheet to the second impression surface thereof,-and means for throwing the cylinders on and off impression; with sheen detectors and tripping means whereby if a sheet is not presented y or not properly positioned on the transfer means the impression is off during the time that such sheet should have been printed.

8. In a multicolor printing press the combination of an impression cylinder having two impression surfaces, a plate cylinder having two printing surfaces respectively adapted to co-act with the related impression surfaces, a feed table adapted to deliver sheets to one of the impression surfaces of the impression cylinder, a transfer reel adapted to take sheets'from the first impression surface of the cylinder and deliver such sheet to the second impression surface thereof, and means for throwlng the cylinders on and off impression; with sheet detecting and tripping means whereby if a sheet is not taken from the feed table the impression is thrown off during the time such sheet should have been printed; and sheet detecting and tripping'means whereby if a sheet is not presented by or not properly positioned on the transfer means the impression is thrown off during the time that such sheet should have been printed, said sheet detecting and tripping means operating independently.

9. In a printing press, the combination of a printing couple, means for throwing off impression, and means for feeding sheets to the impression member of said couple; with means for detecting absent, misplaced or defective sheets; a spring actuated rod for causing the throw-oft mechanism to operate, a pivoted lever for normally holding said rod in ineffective position, a controlling lever for the first lever, a latch engaging the controlling lever, and connections between the latch and the sheet detecting means, whereby the latch is disengaged when the detectors find no sheet or a misplaced or defective sheet on the table, and a cam controlling the operation of said controlling lever.

10. In a printing press the combination of an impression cylinder, a reel adapted to deliver sheets to said cylinder, means for throwing ofi impression, a spring-pressed rod for tripping said throw-ofi' means, a lever for holding the rod in ineffective position, a cam controlling said rod, detector fingers adjacent the said reel, a latch for holding said lever in normal position when the reel is carrying a sheet, and means whereby if a sheet is not on the reel said detector fingers permit the withdrawal of the latch, substantially as described.

11. In a printing press the combination of an impression cylinder, a reel adapted to deliver sheets to said cylinder, means for throwing off impression, a spring-pressed rod for tripping said throw-off means, a controlling lever for holding the rod in ineffective position, a cam and lever for timing the operation of said rod, detector fingers adjacent the said reel, a latch for holding said controlling lever in normal position when the reel is carrying a sheet, and connections whereby if a sheet is not on the reel said detector fingers permit the withdrawal of the latch, substantially as described.

12. In a printing press the combination of a printing couple, means for feeding sheets to the impression member of said couple, a transfer reel adapted to take sheets from said cylinder and to return same thereto, and means for throwing the cylinder oft impression; with a spring-pressed rod for tripping said throw-off means, means for retaining the rod in ineffective position, detector fingers adjacent the said reel, a latch for holding the rod retaining means in normal position when'the reel is carrying a sheet, and means whereby if a sheet is not on the reel said detector fingers withdraw the latch.

13. In a printing press the combination of a printing couple, means for feeding sheets to the impression member of said conple, a transfer reel adapted to take sheets means whereby if a sheet is not on the reel said detector fingers Withdraw the latch.

V 14. In combination an impression cylinder and means for throwing same on and ofl impression; with means for tripping the throw off mechanism, a primary lever to hold said tripping means in ineffective position, a transfer reel beside the impression cylinder, detector fingers adjacent said reel adapted to detect the absence of a sheet thereon, a latch for locking said primary lever, and connections between the detector fingers and said latch whereby the latch is withdrawn if the detector fails to find a sheet on the reel.

15. In combination an impression cylinder and means for throwing same on and off impression; with means for tripping the throwoff mechanism, a primary lever to hold said tripping means in ineffective position, a transfer reel beside the impression cylinder, detector fingers adjacent said reel adapted to detect the absence of a sheet thereon, a

latch for locking said primary lever, con-l nections between the dectector fingers and said latch whereby the latch is withdrawn if the detector fails to find a sheet on the reel, and a cam and lever for timing the tripping operation of the said controlling lever, substantially as described.

16. In combination means for printing upon sheets including co-acting printing and impression members; means for throwing off impression, and transfer means adapted to receive sheets from and subsequently redeliver them to the impression member; with means whereby if a sheet is not present on the transfer means the impression is off during the time that such sheet should have been printed.

' 17. In combination means for printing upon sheets including co-acting printing and impression members; means for throwing oif impression, and transfer means adapted to receive sheets from and subsequently redeliver them to the impression member; with means whereby if a sheet is not received by the transfer means the im pression is off during the time that suc sheet should have been printed.

18. In combination means for printing upon sheets including a printing couple having a plurality of co-acting printing and impression surfaces; means for throwing off impression; and transfer means adapted to receive printed sheets from one impression surface and deliver them to another impression surface; with means whereby if a sheet is not present on the transfer means the impression is off during the time that such sheet. should have been printed.

19. In printing mechanism, the combina tion of a printing couple having a plurality of co-acting printing and impression surfaces; and transfer means adapted to receive printed sheets from an impression surface and deliver them to another impression -surface to receive a second impression; with means whereby if a sheet is not present on the transfer means the latter impression surface is oi'f impression during the time that such sheet should have been printed, and the impression is automatically on to print the next sheet properly presented by the transfer means.

20. In multicolor printing mechanism, the combination of a printing couple having a plurality of co-acting printing and impression surfaces; transfer means adapted to resurface and deliver them to' another impression surface to receive a second impression in color; with means whereby if a sheet is not received by the transfer means the latter surface is off impression during the time that such sheet should have beenprinted, and is automatically thrown on impression to print the next sheet properly presented by the transfer means.

21. In combination means for printing upon sheets including a printing couple hav-. ing a plurality of co-acting printing and impression surfaces; means for throwing off impression; and transfer means adapted to receive printed sheets from one impression surface and deliver them to another impres-- sion surface; with means whereby if a sheet is not present on the transfer means the impression is off during the time that such whereby the impression is on to print the next sheet received by the latter impression surface.

22. In a printing mechanism the combination of a printing member and co-acting impression member; a reel adapted to receive sheets from and subsequently retransfer them to the impression member, and a throw off mechanism; with means whereby if a sheet is not present on the reel the impression is off during the time that such sheet should have been printed.

' 23. In a printing mechanism the combination of a printing member and co-acting impression member; a reel adapted to receive sheets from and subsequently retransfer them to the impression member, and a throw off mechanism; with .means whereby if a sheet is not received by the reel theimpression is off during. the time that such sheet should have been printed.

24. In a printing mechanism the combination of a member having two impression surfaces; transfer means adapted to receive a sheet from one impression surface and subsequently deliver it to the other impression surface; and mechanism for throwin offand on impression; with means whereby if a sheet is not present on the transfer means the impression is off during the time that such sheet should have been printed.

25. In a printing mechanism the combination of a member having two impression surfaces; transfer means adapted to receive a sheet from one impression surface and subsequently deliver it to the other impression surface; and mechanism for throwing off and on impression; with means whereby if a sheet is not received b the transfer means the impression is off uring the time that such sheet should have been printed.

26. In combination an impression member, a printing member adapted to co-act therewith, and means for directing sheets to said impression member; with transfer means adapted to receive a sheet from the impression member and subsequently redeliver the same to said impression member, and means whereby if a sheet is not present on the transfer means the impression is off during the time that such sheet should have been printed.

transfer means the impression is off during the time that such sheet should have been printed.

28. In combination an impression member, a printing member adapted to co-act therewith, and means for directing sheets to said impression member; and transfer means adapted to receive a sheet from the impression member and subsequently redeliver the same to said impression member; with means whereby if a sheet is not present on the transfer means the impression is off during the time that such sheet should have been printed, and means whereby the impression is on in time to print the next sheet taken by the impression member.

29. In a. multicolor press the combination of an impression member having a plurality of impression surfaces, a printing member having a plurality of printing surfaces re spectively adapted to co-act with the related impression surfaces on the impression member, means for automatically holding off impression for any related printing and impression surface if a sheet is not properly presented thereto; means for directing sheets to the impression member, and transfer means adapted to receive a previously printed sheet from one impression surface of such member and subsequently redeliver the same to another impression surface thereof, substantially as described.

30. In a multicolor press the combination of an impression member, a printing member -having a plurality of printing surface of an impression member, a printing member having a plurality of printing surfaces adapted to co-act with the impression member, means for throwing on and off impression; means for directing sheets to the impression member, and transfer means adapted to receive a previously printed sheet from the impression member and subsequently deliver the same to said impression member; with sheet detecting and'tripping mechanism whereby if a sheet is not received by the transfer means the throw off mechanism is permitted to hold off impression during the time that such sheet should have been printed.

32. In a multicolor press the combination of an impression member having a plurality of impression surfaces, a printing member having a plurality of printing surfaces respectively adapted to co-act with the related impression surfaces on the impression member; means for throwing on and off impression for any related printing and impression surface; means for directing sheets to the impression member, and transfer means adapted to receive a previously printed sheet from one impression surface of such memher and deliver the same to another impression surface thereof; with sheet detecting and tripping mechanism whereby if the impression member fails to take a sheet from the directing means the hold off mechanism is permitted to hold off impression during the time such sheet should have beeii printed; and sheet detector and tripping mechanism whereby if a sheet is not present on the transfer means the throw off mechanism is permitted to hold off impression during the time that such sheet should have been printed.

33. In a multicolor press the combination of an impression member having a plurality of impression surfaces, a printing member having a plurality of printing surfaces respectively adapted to co-act with the related impression surfaces on the impression member; means for throwing on and off impres sion for any related printing and impression surface means for directing sheets to'the impression member, and transfer means adapted to receive a previously printed sheet from one impression surface of such member and deliver the same to another impression surface thereof; with sheet detecting and tripping mechanism whereby if the impression member fails to take a sheet from the directing means the hold off mechanism is permitted to hold off impression during the time such sheet should have been printed; and sheet detector and tripping mechanism whereby if a sheet is not received by the transfermeans the throw off mechanism is permitted to holdoff impression during the time that such sheet should have been printed.

34. In combination, means for printing upon sheets including a printing couple having primary co-acting printing and impression surfaces and secondary co-acting printing and impression surfaces; means for throwing ofi' impression; and transfer means adapted to receive printed sheets from one impression surface and deliver them to another impression surface; with means whereby if the transfer means fails to properly perform its function the secondary co-acting printing and impression surfaces are held off impression.

35. In combination a printing couple having a plurality of means for successively operating upon sheets; means for feeding.

sheets to the first operating means; and means for transferring sheets from the first to a succeeding operating means; with sheet detecting devices and means controlled thereby whereby if the first operating means is not supplied with a proper sheet such operating means is rendered ineffective during the time that such sheet should have been op erated upon by it; and other sheet detecting devices and means controlled thereby where by if the succeeding operatin means is not supplied with a proper sheet from the transferring means said succeeding operating means is rendered ineffective during the time that such sheet should have been operated upon by it.

- 36. In a printing press, the combination of a printing couple having a plurality of printing means, means for throwing on and off impression; means for directing sheets to the first printingmeans, and transfer means adapted to receivea previously printed sheet from one printing means and transfer it to a succeeding printing means; with sheet detecting and tripping devices whereby if a defective sheet is presented or a sheet is not properly positioned or no sheet is present at either taking point, the related printing means is off impression during-the time that such sheet should have been printed by it.

37. In combination a printing couple hav: ing a plurality of means for printing upon sheets; means for feeding sheets to the first printing means; and means for transferring sheets from the first printing means to a succeeding printing means; with sheet detecting devices-and means controlled thereby whereby if the first printing means isnot supplied with the proper sheet such printing means is rendered ineffective during the time that such sheet should have been printed by it; and other sheet detecting devices and means controlled thereby whereby if the succeeding printing means is not properly supplied with a sheet by the transferring means said succeeding printing I means is rendered ineffective during the time that such sheet should have been printed by it.

38. In combination means for printing upon sheets including a printing couple having primary and secondary co-acting printing and impression surfaces, means for throwing ofl impression, and transfer means adapted to receive printed sheets from the primary impression surface and deliver them to the secondary impression surface; with means whereby if during any cycle of operations the transfer means fails to properly perform its function, the secondary coacting printing and impression surfaces are off impression.

'89. In combination means for printing upon sheets including a printing couple having primary and secondary co-acting printing and impression surfaces, means for printed sheets from the primary impression surface and deliver them to the secondary impression surface; with means whereby if a proper sheet is not presented or a sheet is not properly positioned at either taking point the impression is held off during the time such sheet should have been printed.

40. In a multicolor printing press, the combination of a printing couple having a plurality of impression surfaces and a plurality of printing surfaces respectively adapted to co-act with the related impres sion surfaces, means for throwing on and off impression, means for directing sheets to first impression surface, and transfer means adapted to receive a previously printed sheet from one impression surface and deliver it to another impression surface; with sheet detecting and tripping devices whereby if a defective sheet is presented or a sheet is not properly positioned at either taking point the related printing and im pres'sion surfaces are off impression during 'and transfer means adapted to receive t the time that such sheet should have been printed by them.

4&1. In a multi-color press, means for printing upon sheets, including a printing couple having primary and secondary coacting printing and impression surfaces; transfer means adapted to receive a previously printed sheet from the primary impression surface and deliver the same to the secondary impression surface; means for throwing off and on impression for any re lated printing and impression surface; means for directing sheets to the primary impression surface; means for detecting a defective, misplaced, or absent sheet; means for preventing a defective or misplaced sheet from being presented to the primary impression surface; means whereby, when a defective, misplaced, or absent sheet is detected, impression is off between the primary co-acting printing and impression surfaces during the time such'sheet should have been printed; and sheet detector and tripping mechanism whereby if the transfer means fails to properly function, impression is off during the time that such sheet should have been printed by the secondary co-acting printing and impression surfaces.

42. In a printing press, the combination of a printing couple having a plurality of co-acting printing and impression surfaces, means for positively throwing on the impression; means for permitting the impression to go off, means for feeding sheets to the impression member of the couple; and detecting means for detecting absent, misplaced or defective sheets; with a member for connecting up into and disconnecting out of effective relation the means for throwing on impression; means for limiting the movements of the connecting and disconnecting member; a restraining device to keep said connecting and disconnecting means in inoperative position; and means controlled by the detecting means to render effective or ineffective said restraining device; whereby if said detecting means finds no sheet or a misplaced or defective sheet said restraining device is rendered inefiective and the impression is held off during the time that such sheet would have been printed.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I affix my signature.

BU RT F. UPHAM. 

